After accompanying his Saint Lord Master in copying scriptures for a while, Yan Zhen reverted to his original form. He left the Bitter Sea Cave-Heaven and headed to Rain God Peak. Upon discovering that the Yu Shizun was in secluded cultivation, he chose not to disturb her and went straight to the Necropolis.
As soon as he arrived inside the sacred mountain, a skeletal portal opened automatically. Yan Zhen stepped through it and followed the familiar aura to the depths of the White Bone Grotto-Heaven.
There stood the Evil Consort Master before her throne, gazing up at a floating figure in the air above, a faint sorrow etched between her brows.
Yan Zhen landed beside his Evil Consort Master and looked up as well. He quickly recognized the figure’s true identity.
It was Granny Meng.
The Evil Consort Master’s face remained expressionless as she said, “Granny Meng has reached the end of her lifespan. This Palace refined her into a corpse puppet according to her final wish, keeping her by my side… But in truth, this isn’t good for her. Once turned into a corpse puppet, she loses any chance of reincarnation.”
It was rare for Yan Zhen to see a trace of vulnerability in his Evil Consort Master.
From the moment of her birth until her slumber, and from her awakening until now, Granny Meng had always served her. Thus, Granny Meng held great weight in her heart, even more than her three secondary bodies.
Yan Zhen took his Evil Consort Master’s arm and comforted her. “Evil Consort Master, don’t be sad. Once I reach a realm beyond Emperor, I’ll resurrect Granny Meng for you.”
Only then did the Evil Consort Master turn to Yan Zhen. A soft tenderness flickered in her midnight-black eyes, and she couldn’t help reaching out to caress his cheek. “Yan’er~”
She leaned in proactively and kissed his lips.
The skeletal portal opened once more, and the two returned to the Consort God Palace Bedroom, where they tumbled onto the lavish jade bed.
The Evil Consort Master lay on her side, embracing Yan Zhen. She gently parted her robes, offering her full, ripe breasts to his mouth. “Good Yan’er, sweet Yan’er, This Palace’s everything is yours…”
Yan Zhen blinked and obediently played the role of a baby, soothing his Evil Consort Master’s body and soul in this way.
Sure enough, the Evil Consort Master quickly calmed down, planting occasional soft kisses on Yan Zhen’s forehead.
The two lingered quietly like this, their hearts overflowing with affection that surpassed mere physical desire.
The Evil Consort Master somewhat understood now why the Jialan Fairy was so obsessed with this act of “feeding”—
“Yan’er, did something happen at the Evergreen Holy Land? It seems you borrowed This Palace’s power.”
Baby Yan Zhen explained the situation to his Evil Consort Master via a secret voice transmission.
She listened quietly, occasionally letting out soft moans, until she could no longer suppress the longing in her body and soul. She pushed him down and loomed over her beloved from two lifetimes in her supreme, seductive pose. “Let This Palace pamper you, Yan’er~”
The night passed in silence, filled only with passion.
After rising the next day, Yan Zhen served his Evil Consort Master with a bath, tangling with her for a good long while before finally returning to the Jialan Holy Land.
Back at Holy Son Peak, Yan Zhen gathered all the women and explained the situation with the Violet Forge Holy Land.
With the Violet Forge Holy Land fallen, if the Demon Domain wanted to extend its reach into the Jialan Continent, the Three Major Kingdoms along the Eastern Border and the City of Water would bear the brunt.
Yi Xian’er showed no reaction. She felt little attachment to the Shadow Moon Kingdom, and from the moment she chose to follow Yan Zhen, she had no intention of returning to be its queen.
Ji Ya was also quite calm, having foreseen this. “Sister has already arranged for the core personnel of the Golden Jade Chamber of Commerce and the Ji Family to work at the branch in Myriad Merchants Ancient City. We’ve even relocated the headquarters here.”
Cai Lian remained utterly composed. “Some time ago, the Scarlet Python King sent people to the City of Water to bring back our clansmen to the Snake God Clan. Hardly anyone remains there now—those two women probably found nothing but an empty nest.”
Those two women were her unscrupulous elder sisters. If they wanted the throne of the City of Water so badly, they could have it for now. Cai Lian wondered if they might turn on each other over who ascended first.
Only Yun Xiu and Huangfu Wenqing wore expressions of deep worry. The master and disciple had traveled far to the Evergreen Continent for cultivation, spending a great deal of time there. They had only just returned to the Jialan Continent and hadn’t yet arranged an escape route for Cloud Heaven Palace or the Huangfu Family.
Cloud Heaven Palace, in particular, had once been a target of the Demon Domain. Now that they were mounting a comeback, they certainly wouldn’t let it go.
“It looks like Xiu’er and I need to make a trip back,” Yun Xiu said.
“Mm. Relocating the entire family might be difficult, but at least we have to get Grandpa and Father—”
Yan Zhen thought for a moment and said, “Then let’s invite Elder Huangfu and the others over to the Yan estate’s new home as guests.”
Huangfu Wenqing nodded eagerly.
“As for Cloud Heaven Palace, that’s trickier.”
It was a massive sect with far too many people—not on the same scale as a family.
Yan Zhen looked toward Yun Xiu, who understood his meaning from that glance. She bit her lip and finally said sadly, “Dissolve Cloud Heaven Palace and send the disciples and elders to the Holy Land Academy. Would that work?”
Huangfu Wenqing hugged her master, equally dejected.
Even with rebirth, they hadn’t been able to save the sect.
Yan Zhen comforted them. “You two don’t need to be so pessimistic. Once everything settles, you can reopen the sect and take on new disciples. As long as their hearts remain with Cloud Heaven Palace, you can start over.”
Hearing this eased their hearts somewhat.
“Then it’s settled. Tomorrow, come with me to the Holy Land Academy to inform Big Aunt Yu Yan and Little Aunt Yu Qing. We’ll say our hellos, make introductions, and then head back to the Garo Kingdom.”
Yun Xiu and Huangfu Wenqing’s expressions turned a bit strange, but they said nothing and nodded obediently.
The next day, Yan Zhen brought Yun Xiu and Huangfu Wenqing to the Holy Land Academy to meet Big Aunt Yu Yan and Little Aunt Yu Qing.
The sisters had heard about this beautiful master-disciple pair from their niece and close friend long ago. Now, seeing Yun Xiu in person, Little Aunt Yu Qing couldn’t help comparing them. She thought to herself that the woman wasn’t all that much prettier, and wasn’t a mother-daughter or sister duo even more enticing than a master-disciple one?
Hmph~
Unaware of Little Aunt Yu Qing’s little mood, Yan Zhen briefly explained the current situation. Big Aunt Yu Yan immediately agreed. “How many people exactly? I need a rough number.”
Yun Xiu hadn’t returned to Cloud Heaven Palace in ages, so she could only give an estimate.
Big Aunt Yu Yan quickly devised a plan. “Everyone below Mystic General Realm goes to the Outer Academy. Mystic Generals to the Inner Academy. Mystic Kings can serve as instructors in the Outer Academy. As for the few Mystic Lords, they’ll be instructors in the Inner Academy. How does that sound?”
Yun Xiu had no objections and said gratefully, “Thank you, Big Aunt.”
Big Aunt Yu Yan was very warm and friendly, smiling as she replied, “What thanks between family?”
At those words, Yun Xiu’s face flushed red.
With matters at the Holy Land Academy settled, the three set off for the Garo Kingdom. Given their current cultivation levels, the journey didn’t take long.
Upon reaching the capital, they split up. Yun Xiu returned to Cloud Heaven Palace, while Yan Zhen went home to the Huangfu Family with Huangfu Wenqing to pay respects to the elders.
The Huangfu Family was overjoyed and promptly arranged a grand banquet to welcome them back.
Now that Yan Zhen was the Saint Son of the Jialan Holy Land—one beneath only the Holy Lord and above all others—his visit brought immense glory to the Huangfu Family.
Huangfu Xiong’s attitude hadn’t changed much. Beaming with delight, he said things like, “This old man could tell at a glance that you were going places, kid,” and “Wenqing’s in your hands now—treat her well.”
The three Huangfu brothers, however, were somewhat deferential. They had once looked down on him with dog eyes, and if not for the elder’s intervention, things might have turned hostile.
Yan Zhen wasn’t petty and didn’t hold it against them.
The next day, on behalf of Yan Lie, Yan Zhen and Huangfu Wenqing invited Elder Huangfu to visit the Yan estate’s new home as a guest. The elder suspected nothing and, escorted by his son and grandsons, boarded Yan Zhen’s speedboat mount.
Yan Zhen and Huangfu Wenqing each left behind a spiritual avatar to pilot the speedboat while their true bodies headed to Cloud Heaven Palace to assist.
